Phonograph



Dec. 23, 1941.

l., z. LA FOREST PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l (Ittorneg Dec. 23, 1941. L.. z. LA FOREST PHONOGRAPH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 21,` 1940 ll louz's Z-alres# Gttorneg Patented Dec. 23, 1941 PHONOGRAPH Louis Z. La Forest, Morris Plains, N. J., assignor to Thomas A. Edison,

Incorporated, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 21, 1940, Serial No. 357,713

18 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs and more particularly to commercial phonographs such as dictating machines. The invention is especially concerned with new and improved means for controlling such machines and for safeguarding the same against misoperation.

Dictating machines are usually constructed so as to be selectively operable either to record or to reproduce dictation. The reproducing function is provided, in particular, to permit the operator, while in the course of recording dictation, to reproduce portions of previously recorded matter, such facility to reproduce being especially valuable in permitting the operator to listenback on his dictation and thus reconstruct in his mind the line of his thoughts. The conditioning of the machine for the reproduction of such previously recorded matter usually involves shifting the translating device from recording condition to inoperative condition, then backspacing the device along the record to the desired point,

. and thereafter shifting the device from inoperative condition to reproducing condition. Since the type of translating device commonly employed in dictating machines is effective either to cut or emboss the record when it is in recording condition, it is clear that should the operator mistakenly shift the device back to recording instead of to reproducing condition, after the device has been backspaced, and then resume the operation of the machine, the device would cause an obliteration of the recordation. It is thus important, particularly in view of dictating machines being generally used by laymen who vfrequently are unfamiliar with the mechanics and operation of the machine, that some .suitable means be provided to insure against misoperations of the machine such, for example, as would result in damage to the recordation. Various arrangements have been proposed for safeguarding the machine against such possible misoperations.

These arrangements have been effective but very' It is a 'further object to fulfill the desired function above expressed largely through the medium of the normally provided parts of the machine.

A particular object of my invention is to restrict the shifting of a recorder-reproducer translating device between its respective conditions to a predetermined sequence.

It is another object to cause the translating device and/or control means to be relieved of the restriction just mentioned when the device has been shifted from a reproducing condition, and further to cause the restriction to be restored when the device has been shifted from a recording condition.

It is a further object to place the restrictive means into inoperative condition as an incident to the conditioning of the machine for operation on a new or subsequent record, and it is a feature of my invention to so aect the restrictive means either by a change of record on the machine or by a change of the usually provided index slips in their holder.

Other objects and features of my invention lie in various combinations of elements hereinafter described in detail and will more fully appear from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description `of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a fractional side elevational view of a dictating machine incorporating my invention;

Figure 2 is a fractional top plan view of the mechanism of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of 'Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial top plan view of a dictating machine illustrating a modification in a feature of my invention;

Figure 5 is a fractional right-hand elevational View of the mechanism of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional View taken substantially along the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Reference being had to Figures 1 and 2 there will be seen a dictating machine of a Well-known conventional type housed within a cabinet I partially shown. The machine has for its frame a base 2 provided with an intermediate upright standard 3, and With left and right upright standards 4 and 5, this frame being hinged as at 6 to the rear Wall of the cabinet and supported by the front Wall of the cabinet by way of a bracket 1. Journalled in the intermediate standard 3 is a Shaft 8 of a mandrel 9 adapted to carry a cylindrical record I which as a typical case is made of a wax-like material; and supported by the left andright standards 4 and 5, in parallel relation to the mandrel 9, is a pair of front and back rods II and I2 lof which the front rod is journalled in the standards i and 5 for reasons which will hereinafter be apparent. rIhese rods slidably support a carriage I3 for movement along the record, the carriage being slid directly on the back rod and mounted on the front rod by way of a sleeve I3 which slidably embraces the front rod. The carriage has a forwardly extending arm Iii overlying the record I and apertured to receive a phonographic translating device I5. A driven movement of the carriage i3 along the record is effected through the medium of a feed nut AIii and cooperating feed screw Il of which the feed nut is movably mounted on the carriage by way of a pivoted bracket i6' and the feed screw is rotatably supported by the standards 4 and Ei. The feed `screw and .record-supporting mandrel are rotated concurrently, through the medium of a clutch 3 partially shown, by a suitable drive means which is not herein necessary to show.

At the front of the record on theV right-hand side of the machine a portion 2 of the base 2 is raised slightly and downwardly inclined to the front, and extending laterally across the front of the machine in parallel relation to the top surface of the base portion 2' is a holder I3 for an index slip I9, the holder being supported by way of a bracket I 8 which is secured tothe front of the base 2 by the screws I8". The index slip is provided for the purpose of receiving explanatory remarks or annotations with respect to particular portions of the matter recorded on the record;

these remarks are made, for example, by a pencil (not shown) with the aid of a guide member 2li extended transversely across the slip and carried by a bracket 2l which depends from the carriage arm il. at the front of the record.

The mandrel 9 is preferably provided with a record holding and ejecting mechanism of the type disclosed in Gramann Patent No. 2,010,717,- issued August 6, 1935, and entitled Phonograph and to which reference maybe had for a description of this mechanism in all its details. This mechanism, which is herein fractionally shown in Figure 4,. may be sufficiently described in the present instance as follows: A flanged sleeve 69 is slidably mounted on the mandrel shaft B at the left or inner end of the mandrel; this sleeve is provided at its left end with an ejecting head 6I which is adapted to abut against the inner end of the record, and at its right endwith a small annular flange B2. The sleeve $6 is biased right- Wardly so as to urge a mounted record oil from the mandrel. This biasing of the sleeve Sd is accomplished by means of a compression spring 63 mounted on a screw G4 which extends through the flange and threads into a web 65 on the mandrel, the spring being interposed between the head of the screw and the fiange 62. At the open end of the mandrel there is provided an expansible and contractible chuck t5 which is biased into expanded position but latchable in contracted position and controlled in the release of its latching by the sleeve BIJ. Also at the right end ofthe mandrel there is provided a knob 61 which is manipulatable to compressthe chuck 615 into contracted position. When a record is moved over the mandrel into mounted position the head 6I is impinged upon by the record and the-sleeve Sll'is moved leftwardly and in response to this movement of the sleeve the chuck is released acercar from contracted position. Upon the release of the chuck it expands, in response to its biasing, to grip the record and hold the same in mounted position on the mandrel. When the chuck is thereafter contracted by means of the knob Si the flanged sleeve 60 moves rightwardly by reason of its biasing to eject the record from the mandrel and in response to this movement of the sleeve the chuck is again latched in contracted position.

The translating device herein illustrated is a combined recorder-reproducer unit of a wellknown type such as is illustrated and described in Somers Patent No. 2,212,672, dated August 27, 1940, and entitled Phonograph and to which reference may be had for a description of the device in its details. This -device comprises a sound box 22 which is provided with a recorder stylus 23 and pivoted to a frame 25 of the device, as at 24, for movement toward and away from the record. The sound box 22 is sound coupled through a tube 26 to, a neck 2l extending upwardly from the frame 25. It is by way of this neck that sound is communicated to the device during recording and from the device during reproducing. The translating device is also provided with a reproducer stylus 28 which is usually spaced circumferentially about the record from the recorder stylus and in a-ddition slightly behind the recorder stylus in respect of the direction of advance of the 4device along the record. This reproducer stylus is provided with a biasing Weight 29 which like the sound box 22 is pivoted at 24 to the frame 25 for movement toward and away from the record.

The translating device is so arranged that when both the sound box 22 and reproducer stylus biasing weight 29 are released to move down onto the record the recorder stylus 23 operatively engages the record and the device is conditioned for recording; that when the sound box 22 is retained in a raised position and the biasing weight 29 is released, then the weight is rendered effective to bias the reproducer stylus against the record and to place the device into a condition for reproducing; and that when both the sound box 22 and biasing weight 29 are retained vin raised positions, as shown in Figure l, then both the recorder and reproducer -styli are held out of engagement with the record and the device is placed into inoperative condition. When the device is in recording condition, it is effective to produce a progressive groove on a rotating record bearing modulations in accordance with the sound vibrations communicated to the device; and when the device is in reproducing condition, it is eective to generate sound vibrations in accordance with the modulations of such record groove as the groove is progressively tracked by the reproducer stylus.

The conditioning of the translating device E5 and the shifting of the feednut I6 into and out of engagement with the feed screw Il is controlled by a control lever 39 moved with the carriage I3 andhaving a hub portion 3d which embraces the carriage sleeve I3. The control llever extends upwardly from its hub portion through an opening 3l in the top of the carriage and may be rocked forwardly and rearwardly from a neutral or inoperative position shown in Figure l into respective positions hereinafter referred to as the recording and reproducing positions of the lever. The control lever is coupled to the translating device and to the feed nut I6 by a coupling means not herein necessary to be fully described as such coupling means is Weil known, a typical form thereof being, for example, fully described in the Somers patent above referred to. Sufficient for the present purpose is the statement that this coupling means is so arranged that when the control lever is rocked between inoperative positions into recording and reproducing positions, the translating device is shifted between inoperative condition and its respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing, the shifting in the condition of the translating device being effected as by a camming action between a cross pin 32 on the hub portion of the control lever and lifting arms 33 and 34 (fractionally shown) which are respectively associated with the sound box 22 and biasing weight 29. Also when the control lever is shifted between inoperative position and its recording and reproducing positions the feed nut I6 is moved into and out of engagement with the feed screw, as by a camming action of the pin 32 on the support bracket I6 for the feed nut. Thus, when the control lever is shifted into recording and reproducing positions the translating device is respectively conditioned for recording and reproducing and also in each case the feed nut is enga-ged with the feed screw; and when the control lever is returned from either recording or reproducing position to. inoperative position the device is restored to inoperative condition and the feed nut is moved out of engagement with the feed screw.

The machine is provided with protective means to prevent a change of record on the machine while either stylus of the translating device is in a lowered position for engagement with a mounted record, such means serving to protect the record against being scratched and the styli against breakage during the mounting and removal of the record in relation to the mandrel. This protective means, in its general form, comprises a cam member 36 secured by a screw 31 to the right end of the carriage support rod Il and a cooperating cam member 38 pivoted by a screw 39 to the outer side of the standard5. The cam member 36 is locked to the carriage support rod Il by means of a lug 4U turned over from the member 36 into engagement with the end portion of a groove 4l provided in the rod Il longitudinally thereof, and the control lever 30 is splined to the rod` Il by means of a screw (not shown) which is threaded through the hub portion 30 of the lever into engagement with the groove 4|. Thus the lever 30 is coupled to the member 36 to cause the latter to move angularly and'coordinately with the lever. When the control lever 30 is shifted into reproducing position a downwardly extending finger 36a provided on the cam member 36 is swung forwardly into the path described by the record in the movement of the same onto andoff of the mandrel, and when the control lever is returned to inoperative position the n-ger 36a is moved rearwardly into a position beyond this record path, as into the position occupied by the finger in Figure 1. When the control lever 30 is moved to recording position the finger 36a is moved rearwardly yet further beyond the path of the record; however, in the latter movement of the finger 36a, it impinges upon an upward projection 38a of the member 38 and cams the member 38 ina clockwise direction. Such clockwise movement of the member 38 causes a downwardly extending finger 38h thereof to be moved into the record path abovementioned. When the control lever is returned jlo fromrecording position to inoperative position the finger 36a is first slid along a surface 38j of the member 38, to cam the member 38 back to inoperative position, and is thereafter moved free of the member 38. Thus, the member 36 serves to obstruct the record path when the translating device is conditioned for reproducing and the member 38 serves to obstruct this path when the device is conditioned for recording.

As heretofore referred to, in the course of the usual dictation recording operation the operator occasionally listens back on the record to portions 4of previously recorded matter as an aid in further formulating the dictation to be recorded. When the reproducer stylus 28 is spaced slightly behind the recorder stylus 23, as aforementioned, the last bit of matter recorded may be reproduced by merely shifting the translating device from recording to reproducing condition'and continuing the operation of the machine.` Frequently, however, the operator will want to go back further and reproduce other prior portions of recorded matter. In this case the operator will have to shift the translating device to inoperative condition so as to free the recorder stylus from the record and the carriage from the feed screw, to then backspace the carriage to the desired point along the record and thereafter to shift the device into reproducing condition. When the translating device has been backspaced there is involved the danger of the operator returning, as by accident or mistake, the translating device to recording instead of to reproducing condition and then resuming the operation of the machine, in which case there would be caused an obliteration of the recordation, as aforementioned. It is found that in the usual case the greatest risk of the device being shifted into recording condition, while the device is backspaced, occurs at the instant when the condition of the device is to be shifted at the termination of the backspacing of the device; and that should the operator properly condition the device for reproducing at such termination of backspacing, he will thereafter likely reproduce through to the end of the matter recorded and thus avoid any further risk of shifting the translating device into recording condition while it is in a backspaced position. In accordance with my invention the machine is substantially safeguarded against possible misoperations such as are here mentioned by providing simple means to prevent the translating device from being shifted into recording condition in the next manipulation thereof following a backspacing of the device. 'I'his safeguarding is effected by the provision of restrictive means to prevent the translating device, when the same has been shifted out of recording condition, from being thereafter returned to recording condition except as an incident to a conditioning of the device for reproducing following such prior conditioning of the device for recording.

The restrictive means by which the function just stated is accomplished comprises a detent 45 which is positioned directly behind the position occupied by the obstructing finger 36a when the control lever is in inoperative position (see Figure 1) The detent has a circular head 45and a non-circular or, for example, square shank 45 of which the former is fitted in a circular recess 46 in the outer side of the 'standard 5 (see Figures 2 and 3) and the latter is extended through .a square hole 46` running through the standard `from the bottom of the recess, the fitting of the shank `to thesquare hole .being adapted .to ,hold the detent angularlylstationary'. .The Vrecess is made considerably deeper than the 'thickness of the head 45 of the detent to permit the detent to be moved inwardly into an inoperative position wherein the head 45 will lie wholly within the recess. The detent is, however," normally held in an outward or operative position by means of a compression spring 41 interposed between the head 65' and the bottom of the recess 45, the operative position of the detent being delined by the contact of the standard with the head of a screw 8 threaded into the end of the shank 45".

When the detent is in its outer or operative position it lies in the path of the finger 36a to obstruct the control lever Sil against movement into recording position. When the control lever is, however, moved to reproducing position, a rearwardly extending ringer 35h of the member 36 is swung downwardly against the back side of the projection 38a on the member 38 to cam the member slightly in a counter-clockwise direction. In this counter-clockwise movement of the member 38, an upward extension 33C on the projection 38a slides over a cam face 49 on the head 45 of the detent to cam the detent inwardly out of the path of the finger 36a. As the control lever is next returned from reproducing position to inoperative position, the member 38 is held stationary, by reason of the friction between it and the detent, and the detent is thus retained in inoperative position to permit a subsequent conditioning of the translating device for recording. When the translating device is next conditioned for re'- cording, the ringer 35a impinges against the mem- I ber 38 and cams its extension 38C off from the detent. The detent will then bear against the linger 35a. When the translating device is thereafter returned from recording condition to inoperative condition the finger 36a slides olf from the detent and the detent is restored to operative position in response to its biasing. This restoration of the detent causes the translating device to be again locked against being shifted into recording condition until it is thereafter again shifted into reproducing condition.

In considering the functioning of the mechanism just described in terms of the actual use of the dictating machine, it will be seen that when the translating device is backspaced, as for the purpose of reproducing portions of previously recorded matter, the operator is prevented from next restoring the translating device to recording condition. When, however, the operator has shifted the device to reproducing condition to reproduce the portion of recorded matter selected he may thereafter res-tore the translating device to a recording condition to continue the recording operation. Y

It will be seen to be a characteristic of the machine so far described that when the translating device has `been last employed for recordation and is returned along the record to initial position for further recordation, as on a newly mounted record, then the restoration of the device to recording condition following its return to initial position will have to be effected by nrst manipulating the device into its reproducing condition. Such enforced manipulation ci the device into reproducing condition as an incident preceding a conditioning of the device for recording may be utilized in a beneficial manner as for warning purposes. It may, however., be

r.desirable to .avoid .the need for such extra manip- -.u1ationof. thedevice to condition ,it` for recordation `on a newly niountedrecord, and for this reason'I vhave provided means lby which the rdetentAE is placed into inoperative position as an incident tothe reconditioning Vof the machine forsubsequent operation on a newly mounted record. In accordance with my invention this is accomplished through the medium of a usual and customary operation performed on the machine in each such reconditioning thereof. Since each record is provided with an index slip, and the index slip is changed in its holder with each change of ,the respective record on the mandrel, in each reconditioning of themachine for operation on `a newly Amounted record, I may cause the detent to be placed into inoperative position either by a change of the index slip in its holder or by a change of record on the mandrel. A means for accomplishing this result as an incident of a change of index slip, which comprises an interference piece positioned adjacent the end of the slip which is gripped by the ngers in removing the slip from its holder, is now described.

Reference being had to Figures l and 2 it will be seen that the holder I8 is in the form of a long strip provided with folded-over side edges which are adapted to grip the sides of an index slip, and that the slip is inserted into the holder and'removed therefrom by sliding the slip over the inclined base portion 2 into and out of the right end of the holder. The interference piece just mentioned comprises a ngerpiece 45 which normally projects upwardly through an opening 5| provided in the base portion 2 at a place directly to the right of a mounted slip. The ngerpiece 49 is carried by alever 5i] which extends from front to back beneath the base 2 and which is pivoted centrally thereof, as at 52, to a boss 53 extending down from the base. The rearward portion of the lever is curved upwardly through an opening 5A `provided in the base 2 directly in from the standard 5, and carried by the lever at the end of its rearward portion is a cross pin 55 which extends laterally through an opening 55 in the standard 5. The pin liesv directly below a cam extension-38d on the member 38. This cam extension is shaped so that when the pin is moved upwardly thereagainst the member 38 will be rocked slightly to place Ithe y'detent in inoperative position as in the manner heretofore described. The pin is, however, normally retained in contact with the bottom of the opening 55 away from the cam extension 38d by means of a tension spring 51 connected between the lever 5i) and the base 2. In this biased position of the lever the --ngerpiece 49 projects upwardly to a levelslightly above that occupied by the slip in its holder, as shown i-n Figure 1. During the course of a change of slip in the index slip holden-as for instance when a slip is gripped by the finger to remove it from the holder, the operator will -push the ngerpiece `a9 downwardly. Such downwardmovement of ythe ngerpiececauses, zthrough the rocking of the lever 50 and-the resultant camming ofthe pin ,55 against the cam extension 38d, the member 35 to cam the detent into inoperative Aposition. Thus, as an incident-to each change of slip in its holder the translating device is rendered free to be shifted into recording condition. Extending rearwardly from the cam extension 38d is a projection 38e having its lower edge arcuately shaped with respect to the pivot axis of the member 38. When the translatingdevice is .in recording condition the vmember 38 -is turned as aforementioned and the projection 38d is moved directly above the pin 55 to obstruct the lever 50 and to lock the ngerpiece 49 in interfering position in relation to the slip. This locking of the fingerpiece in interfering position informs the operator, should he attempt to change the slip in its holder, that the translating device is in operative condition. Such information to the operator serves, for example, to warn him, in advance, against attempting to change the record on the mandrel while either of the styli are in position to engage the record.

An alternative means for placing the detent 45 into inoperative position upon a reconditioning of the machine for recording on a newly mounted record, which is now described, is operated as an incident to a change of record on the mandrel and is accomplished through the medium of the record-holding and ejecting mechanism hereinbefore described. Reference being had to Figures 4, and 6 there will be seen a bar which extends along the mandrel 9 rearwardly thereof and which is slidably mounted on the base 2, for movement in its longitudinal direction, by means of screws 1I passing respectively through slots 12 in the bar and threading into the base. The bar 10 and the ejecting head 6I of the record-holding and ejecting mechanism are operatively coupled together by a disk 14, secured to the ejecting head by studs 15, and a finger 13 on the left end of the bar which projects forwardly just to the right of the disk. When the head 6I is moved rightwardly to eject a record from the mandrel the disk 14 will thus impinge against the finger 13 and move the bar 10 rghtwardly. Suchrightward movement of the bar is adapted to cam a pivoted member 16 over the detent 45 to place the detent into inoperative position. It will be seen that the member 16 is analogous to the cam member 38 hereinbefore described in that the member 16 is provided with a projection 16a, finger 1Gb, extension 16o and cam surface 16f each respectively ofthe same shape as that of the projection 38a, finger 3819, extension 38e and cam surface 38j of the member 33. The member 16 is, however, differently shaped in respect of its lower rearward portion from that of the member 38, there being on the member 16 a downward projection 16d, to the rear of the finger 16h, which provides a substantially vertical camming surface 11. This camming surface 11 cooperates with a cam 18 provided on the right end of the bar 10, this cooperation being such that when the bar is moved rightwardly incidental to a record ejection the cam 18 irnpinges against the camming surface 11 and turns the member 16 slightly in a counter-clockwise direction to cam the detent 45 inwardly into inoperative position, as in the manner hereinbefore described. Thus, as an incident to a change of record on the mandrel the translating device is rendered free to be shifted into recording condition. i

It will be seen, as a characteristic of the mechanism just described, that when the mandrel is free of a mounted record, the spring 63 of the record-holding and ejecting means acts to constantly bias the bar 10 into its rightward or actuated position. While the bar 10 is cammed leftwardly under these conditions by the member 16 and the camming surface 11 and cam 18 are moved out of operative relationship with one another (the nose of the cam 18 being slid along the back side of the member 16) when the translating device is conditioned for recording, the camming Asurface 11Y and cam 18 are always restored to operative relationship when the translating device is shifted from recording to inoperative condition by reason of the member 16 being then cammed back to unoperated position through the medium of the nger 36a and camming surface 16j, as aforementioned. When this camming surface 11 is so restored to operative relationship to the cam 18, the latter, in response to the constant biasing of the bar 10, under the conditions here considered, will cam the member 16 over the detent 45 and place the detent in inoperative position. Thus as an incident to each shifting of the translating device from recording to inoperative condition, the detent is placed into inoperative position and the translating device is rendered freely returnable to recording condition in the next manipulation thereof following 1a shifting of the device from recording to inoperative condition. This ability to freely shift the translating device back and forth between recording and inoperative conditions when the mandrel is free of a mounted record is advantageous in facilitating the testing and servicing of the machines.

I have herein shown and described my invention `in terms of certain preferred embodiments. It is `intended however that these embodiments be illustrative and not limitative of my invention as the same are subject to many changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention,.which I herein set forth according to the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device placeable into an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for'said device selectively operable to place the device into either cf its respective conditions; and means operatively associated with said control means and restrictively iniiuencing the same to prevent the device from being placed by said control means into and out of recording condition twice in succession.

2. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device placeable into an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for said device operable to place the device into either of said conditions: and means operatively associated with andinfluencing said control means to render the same ineffective to shift said device back and forth twice in succession between a predetermined two of said conditions.

3. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device placeable into an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for said device selectively operable to shift the device between inoperative condition and said respective operative conditions; and means, associated with said control means and operative when the device has been shifted out of a predetermined one of said operative conditions into inoperative condition, for rendering the control means ineffective in the next manipulation thereof to shift the device back into said one operative condition.

4. In a phonograph comprising a vrecord-cooperating translating device placeable into an inoperative condition and respective operative conditicnsfor recording and reproducing: the combinationV of' control means connected with said device and' effective to shift said device between inoperative condition and said operative conditions selectively; and means influencing said device in its conditioning to restrict the device from being shifted :from inoperative condition to recording condition and back again twice in succession.

5. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device placeable into an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means operatively lconnected with said device and effective to shift said device between inoperative condition and said operative conditions selectively; and means operatively associated with and restrictively influencing said control means, when the same has been manipulated to shift the device from a predetermined one of said operative conditions to inoperative condition, to v render the control means ineffective to shift said device back into said one operative condition until after the control means is nextmanipulated to shift the device into the other of said operativek conditions.

6. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperatingA translating device placeable into an inoperative 'condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for said device operable to place the device into either of its said conditions; restrictive means associated with said control means to render the same ineffective to place said device into recording condition; and means, operated by said control means and effective when the device has been shifted from reproducing condition into inoperative condition, for rendering said restrictive means inoperative.

7. The subject matter as claimed in claim lG, further including means, operated by said control means as an incident to the initial placing of said device into recording condition following a conditioning of the devic'e for reproducing, for restoring said restrictive means to operative condition.

8. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device placeable into an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for said device operable to shift said device between inoperative condition and said operative conditions selectively; means restricting said control means to render the same ineffective to place said device into a predetermined one of its said operative conditions; and means relieving said control means from the influence of said restricting means upon a placing of said device into the other of said operative conditions.

9. In a phonograph comprising a support onto and from which a record is mounted and removed, and a record-cooperating translating device having an inoperative conditionand respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for said device operable to place the device into its said respective conditions; means operable to obstruct the path described by the record in its movement onto and off of said support; means rendering said obstructing means effective upon the placing of said device into its respective operative conditions; and means operatively associated with said obstructing means and restrict operatively- (ifi ing said control means to render the latter ineective to shift said device back and forth between recording and inoperative conditions twice in succession.

10. In a phonograph comprising a support onto and from which a record is mounted and removed, and a record-cooperating translating de- Vice having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions forrecording and reproducing: the combination of control means for said device selectively operable to shift said device between inoperative condition and either of said operative conditions; restrictive means operatively associated with said control means for rendering the same ineffective to shift said device twice in succession back and forth between inoperative condition and a predetermined one of said operative conditions; and means secured to said restrictive means and effective when said device is in each of its operative conditions, for obstructing the path described by the record in its movement onto and off of said support.

ll. In a phonograph comprising a mandrel rotatably supported at one end and free at the other to receive a record, and a record-cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; means restricting said control means, when the same has been manipulated to shift said device out4 of recording condition into inoperative condition, for rendering the control means ineiective to shiftv the device back into recording condition until `the device has been next shifted into reproducing condition; and means secured to said restrictingV means and moved, upon a shifting of said device into operative condition, to obstruct the path describedby the record in the movement of the same onto and off of said mandrel.

12. In a phonograph comprising a support onto and from which a record is mounted and removed, and a record-cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; restrictive means operatively associated with said control means and rendering the same ineffective to shift said device back and forth between inoperative condition and a predetermined one of said operative conditions twice in succession;v and means causing said restrictive means to be placed into inoperative condition upon the removal of a record from said support.

13. In a phonograph comprising a support onto and from which a record is mounted and removed, and a record-cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; restrictive` means operatively associated with said control means and rendering the control means effective to place said device into a predetermined one of said operative conditions only as an incident following next after a restoration of the device to inoperative condition from the other of said operative conditions; and means influencingsaid restrictive means and operated in response to each change of record on said support to render the restrictive meansV inoperative.

14. In a phonograph comprising a support onto and from which a record is mounted and removed, and a record cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; means restricting said device to render the same placeable into a predetermined one of its operative conditions by said control means only as an incident following next after a shifting of the device to inoperative condition from the other of its operative conditions; a record ejector; and means, actuated by said ejector in the removal of a record from said support, for placing said restricting means into inoperative condition.

15. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; restrictive means associated with said control means and enforcing the placing of said device into one of its operative conditions prior to each placing of the device into the other of its operative conditions; a record indeX slip and a holder therefor; and means, disposed in the vicinity of said holder so that it is adapted for operation concurrently with the removal of the slip from the holder and by a single manipulation of the hand, for placing said restrictive means into inoperative condition.

16. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; restrictive means associated with said control means and rendering the same ineffective to shift said device back and forth between inoperative condition and recording condition twice in succession; an index slip and a holder therefor; a movable member arranged in relation to said holder for movement incidental to a change of slip in the holder; and means, operatively connecting said restrictive means with said member and actuated in response to a movement of the latter, for placing the restrictive means into inoperative condition.

17. In a phonograph comprising a record-cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; restrictive means, associated with said control means and rendering the same ineffective to shift said device back and forth between inoperative condition and recording condition twice in succession; an index slip and a holder therefor; a member movable into and out of a position wherein the member obstructs the normal path defined by the slip in its movement from said holder; and means, operatively connecting said obstructing member with said control means and causing said obstructing member to be locked in obstructing position while said translating device is in recording condition. 18. In a phonograph comprising a support onto and from which a record is mounted and removed, and a record cooperating translating device having an inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing: the combination of control means for placing said device into its respective conditions; means restricting said device to render the same placeable into a predetermined one of its operative conditions by said control means only as an incident following next after a restoration of the device to inoperative condition from the other of its operative conditions; a record ejector; and means, operatively associating said ejector with said restrictive means and effective when said support is free of a mounted record, to maintain said restrictive means in inoperative condition.

LOUIS z. LA FOREST. 

